Questions & Answers about Il sesto piano è chiuso.
Why is sesto placed before piano? I thought adjectives go after the noun in Italian.
You are right that most descriptive adjectives go after the noun. However, ordinal numbers (like primo, secondo, and sesto) are a common exception. They almost always come before the noun, just like in English: il sesto piano (the sixth floor).
Does sesto change its ending depending on the word it describes?
Yes! Ordinal numbers act just like regular adjectives. Because piano is a masculine singular noun, sesto ends in -o. If you were talking about a feminine singular noun, like a room (stanza), it would change to match: la sesta stanza (the sixth room).
I thought piano meant the musical instrument. Does it mean floor here?
Exactly. Piano is a very flexible word with a few different meanings depending on the context. It can mean the musical instrument (short for pianoforte), a plan or strategy, or, when talking about buildings, a floor or story.
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